Cayetano to Robredo: Clarify ‘flowery words,’ propose alternative to drug war

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Speaker Alan Cayetano has asked Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo to clarify her “flowery words” and propose a better alternative to the administration’s drug war which has claimed over 5,500 lives.

Cayetano, who lost to Robredo in the 2016 vice-presidential polls, said this on Tuesday as he backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s dare that she lead the drug war for six months.

READ: Duterte dares Robredo: Lead drug war

“So ako susuportahan ko ‘yung challenge ng ating Pangulo at susuportahan ko si Vice President if she takes the reign for six months,” Cayetano said in an interview before visiting this city’s jail. “But ipakita muna nya at ipaliwanag ano’ng programa nya? Kasi madaling magsabi eh (explain first, what’s her program?), these flowery words, like health-based approach.”

(I support the President’s challenge and I also support the Vice President if she takes the reign for six months. But explain first your program. It’s easy to say these flowery words like the health-based approach.)

“What’s that health-based approach? Kung may baril ‘yung kaharap mo na nagbebenta ng droga at nandun sa school at hinuli ng pulis ano’ng gagawin ng pulis? Sabihin, ‘pare mag-vitamins ka muna’?” the Taguig-Pateros 1st district representative added.

(What’s that health-based approach? If a cop faces a drug suspect who has a gun, what would the cop do? Should the cop tell the suspect, ‘take your vitamins first’?)

Cayetano also said Duterte’s challenge was brought by his “exasperation” over the gravity of the illegal narcotics problem and not because he wanted to pass the responsibility to Robredo.

“Kung panay protesta, panay restating of the problem, panay saying iba ang approach mo, wala kang alternative, it’s not helpful sa discussion,” the House leader said.

(If they keep on protesting, restating the problem, or keep on saying that they have a different approach, it’s not helpful to the discussion.)

“So sa ating Bise Pangulo (So to our Vice President), make your proposal very clear. Define, what is your health-base approach? And how will it apply to elementary, high schools, how will it apply sa mga nanlalaban (to those who resisted arrest)? Sa judges, mayors, governors who are into drugs?” he added.

READ: Cayetano dismisses VP Leni’s anti-drug war remark

Duterte’s challenge to Robredo came after she said there was a need to reassess the former’s bloody drug war following the campaign’s failure to curb the number of drug users in the country.

Citing data from the Dangerous Drugs Board and the President himself, the Vice President said the number of drug users grew to seven to eight million in 2019, from 1.8 million in 2016 when Duterte assumed office.

READ: Robredo: I said reassess – not stop – drug war

Over 5,500 individuals have been killed in the government’s crackdown against illegal narcotics, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, but human rights groups have counted as much as 27,000 death toll.